From the blog

Becoming The Most Favorable Wildlife Tour Guide: An Interview with Abdul Hakim

Abdul Hakim was born in Kumai – Central Kalimantan. Upon finishing high school in 2007, he immediately joined the Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge as a housekeeping department staff. While working as housekeeping, he slowly learned outwardly to become a wildlife tour guide in Tanjung Puting National Park.

It did not take long for the company to ask Hakim to start a new career as a wildlife guide for Ecosafari Indonesia and Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge.

Through Ecolodges Indonesia, Hakim had the opportunity to take part in an internal guide training held at Udayana Kingfisher Ecolodge in Bali. Hakim always receives positive reviews from Ecosafari Indonesia’s clients, and it is not uncommon for guests to specifically request Hakim as their Tour Leader.

In 2016, through Ecolodges Indonesia, Hakim together with two other local people was sent to Australia to participate in fire training in collaboration with Beechmont Rural Fire Brigade – Lamington National Park Australia. The knowledge gained was then disseminated through training activities to several local stakeholders, including Tanjung Putting National Park in 2017.

Hakim now serves as head of wildlife tour guide for Ecosafari Indonesia at Rimba Ecolodge. Not only having extensive knowledge on orangutan and local wildlife, but Hakim is also the only local birding guide at Rimba Lodge and for Tanjung Puting National Park.

Here is our recent interview with Abdul Hakim.

How did you start to get involved with Ecolodges/Ecosafari Indonesia?

I worked at the Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge starting in 2007, at that time I was recommended by my friend Eirose, who had already joined the Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge.

What is the most rewarding experience of being a Guide at Rimba Ecolodge?

The most valuable experience is that I can explore and learn a lot of knowledge ranging from hotel hospitality, learning a new language and also the most important is the opportunity to learn about wildlife in Tanjung Putting National Park.

How does Ecolodges/Ecosafari Indonesia help the conservation effort in Tanjung Putting National Park?

The involvement of Ecolodges and Ecosafari Indonesia for the Tanjung Putting National Park has been very numerous and is still ongoing. These are some of them:

• Restoration of 10 hectares of natural habitat in a former fire area by planting trees; • Donation from Ecosafari Indonesia and Rimba Ecolodge guests for tree planting in the Pesalat area (Pesalat is one of the reforestation areas in Tanjung Putting National Park); • Conduct training on handling forest fires involving the Tanjung Putting National Park staffs and several relevant stakeholders; • Join the river cleaning program every year in collaboration with several local stakeholders

What is your favorite animal? Why?

My favorite animals, aside from Orangutans, are the bears and clouded leopards of Borneo. In my opinion, they are a stunning creature, yet it becomes more difficult to see these days (due to lost habitats and poaching).

How does the company values on conservation inspire your personal journey?

What inspires me the most is the rules on reducing the use of plastic waste in the Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge. Before working at Ecolodges Indonesia, I still liked to dispose of plastic carelessly, but now I am cautious with plastic waste and as much as possible to reduce the use of plastic waste. One day I hope (the policy) can be implemented in the broader setting, for example in Kumai and Pangkalan Bun.

Do you have an example or story of how the work of Ecolodges/Ecosafari is having a positive impact on you and the local community?

Working at Ecolodges have greatly helped me to meet my economic needs and to support my family. There is also a sense of pride in joining a company that values environmental sustainability. Indonesian Ecolodges through the Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge also empowered local people from the start, even though some of them had previously worked as bird looters in National Parks and illegal miners.

Also, one of the important stages in my life is where I first met my spouse (who is my current wife) at the Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge